Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2010
December 22
"The Seven Blessings of Mary" was collected by John Jacob Niles in Cherokee County, North Carolina in 1933. Though the tune is quite different, the words are very similar to the carol "Joys Seven", also known as "The Seven Joys of Mary" or "The First Good Joy That Mary Had" among other titles. There are also versions with different numbers of joys, though seven is most common. Liddy and I played this on seven different instruments in this order: banjo, tin whistle, homemade fretless banjo, flute, mandolin, bass recorder, and a banjo with a skin head. We played in the key of G, and this recording is a single take.
Downloads: mp3
The Seven Blessings of Mary
Performed by Greg Barlow on three banjos and mandolin and Liddy Barlow on tin whistle, flute, and tenor recorder
Words and music: Traditional Appalachian
The very first blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of one;
To know that her son Jesus,
Was God's only Son,
Was God's only Son.
Chorus
Come all ye to the wilderness,
Glory, glory be;
Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost,
Through all eternity.
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of two;
To think her little Jesus
Could read the Bible through,
Could read the Bible through.
Chorus
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of three;
To think her little Jesus
Could make the blind to see,
Could make the blind to see.
Chorus
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of four;
To think her little Jesus
Could make the rich to poor,
Could make the rich to poor.
Chorus
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of five;
To think her little Jesus
Could make the dead to rise,
Could make the dead to rise.
Chorus
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of six;
To think her little Jesus
Could make the well to sick,
Could make the well to sick.
Chorus
The very next blessing that Mary had,
It was the blessing of seven;
To think her little Jesus
Had gone away to heaven,
Had gone away to heaven.
Chorus
Sources and more information
- 50 Three-Chord Christmas Songs for Guitar, Banjo, and Uke, Larry McCabe, Mel Bay Publications, 2009.
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- Jean Ritchie singing this carol